I recently started a series called “Back in the Charts.” This is where I examined how even though rock n roll definitely isn’t the force it once was in the charts, with bands being much less prominent, there have still been more than you’d imagine that have cracked into the UK Top 40 (the Irish charts seem to have rather different rules interestingly). This trend is only starting to grow in the 2020s, compared to the 2010s.

Along with bands that debuted in the 2010s, some relatively older groups still managed to hang on to chart success (and being played on Radio 1) into this decade. One such band is Kings of Leon. Even though they are most remembered for “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody” in the late 2000s (probably two of the last monster hits before rock became less dominant), they still managed to have singles in the Top 40 until 2013. The Mechanical Bull tracks “Supersoaker” and “Wait For Me” managed to get in there and 2016’s “Waste A Moment” wasn’t far off either. They also headlined Radio 1’s Big Weekend in 2017 along with Katy Perry!

*it’s interesting how they still headlined with all the modern pop present. “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody” are guaranteed to get nearly any crowd in the world singing along!

Kings of Leon do have a rather mixed legacy at this point. Their first three albums are praised for their raucous Southern rock energy and they were seen as sellouts by the time “Sex on Fire” came along. I would agree with that assessment to some degree, yet would also beg to differ. Thus, I thought I would go through their discography, displaying my thoughts on their entire body of work. I will start with their first two albums.

Their debut album Youth & Young Manhood was released in 2003. The band had shaggy haircuts at the time and an energetic, bluesy sound. To me, it sounds like a mix of Creedence Clearwater Revival, AC/DC and The Strokes. The band were immediately embraced in the UK, compared to their home country of the US.

The album sounds different to anything they would do after, in my opinion. Even though they would carry on this rollicking spirit for the next few albums, the album has a much harder rock sound to me. Their work after this has been almost entirely based on major key chord progressions and a highly melodic sound, which I absolutely love. In contrast this album has a much dirtier sound, with crunchy yet fun guitar riffs.

This is seen on tracks like “Red Morning Light,” “Molly’s Chambers” and “Wasted Time,” which is so fast it sounds like hillbilly skate punk!

*the much different look of the band back then!

Nonetheless, there are still more melodic tracks on this album. “California Waiting” is the template for the rest of their career and hidden track “Talihina Sky” is a nice country ballad. There are also some tracks that are halfway between melodic indie rock and blues, with “Happy Alone” and “Joe’s Head.”

As a vocalist, Caleb Followill is quite divisive. My Dad certainly isn’t a fan! I suppose he could be seen as whiney (especially on a song like “Use Somebody”). Now I am no fan of modern singers with that Lewis Capaldi singing style (not to single him out, he seems like a great guy). These include staples like James Arthur, Alex Warren etc. I strongly dislike that overdramatic style of singing.

However, Caleb has never bothered me. Maybe because I enjoy the music underneath, but if you watch him live he has a relaxed demeanour and doesn’t look like he’s straining at all. He has a slight Southern twang to his voice (the band are from Nashville) which I greatly enjoy. His diction was poor, especially on this album, but has gotten much clearer over the years. He does sing in a much more accessible way now, to preserve his voice.

Their next album, Aha Shake Heartbreak, is probably my favourite Kings record. Apart from the hard-rocking “Pistol of Fire,” every song is greatly melodic and major-key. It features the trademarks of the band; creative basslines and the intertwined guitars of Caleb and Matthew. However, the album still does rock hard, as with the debut. I think it displays their early sound at its zenith and has heaps of energy.

I don’t have too much else to say about it, as I wouldn’t skip any tracks. Even Caleb’s voice is clearer on it. I thought I would leave it there, as I wanted to showcase their early style before some different sounds came in. However, I would change the tracklist on their debut around to make it more melodic like the rest of their discography. Here’s my tracklist below. Thanks for reading.

1. Red Morning Light
2. Wasted Time
3. Molly’s Chambers (a few hard rockers and one very fast-paced track to start)
4. Happy Alone
5. Joe’s Head (starting to introduce a more melodic side with these tracks)
6. Trani (first ballad – bluesy yet melodic)
7. California Waiting
8. Spiral Staircase (back to the hard rock of the early tracks)
9. Dusty (another bluesy yet melodic ballad)
10. Talihina Sky